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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
[Scarred Lands] Ashes & Wormwood
- Thread starter SSS-Druid
- Start date
SSS-Druid
First Post
Player Characters
Rua Woodsdatter (human female, Rog3, CG)
The young half wood-elf Rua grew up on the streets of Hollowfaust. Though she avoided the underground elements of the city’s streets (such as the Brotherhood of the Shade), she did manage to survive by stealing. Her nimble fingers served her well, at least until she tried to cut the coin purse of a darkly dressed man.
Unfortunately, this slightly drunken man turned out to be a Guildsman and the decorative skeletal hand hanging from his belt turned out to be all too animated, seizing her hand as she put blade to purse. He quickly subdued her with the help of a nearby trio of skeletons and she was taken into the court system of Hollowfaust.
The guildsman, Amanfar Darsinthe, brought his apprentice, Sallia, to the court proceedings so that she might watch Hollowfaust justice in action. Because she stole nothing, Rua was not fined, but she was sentenced to the single lash given to petty thieves.
The night before her sentence, Sallia snuck into the holding cell and the two talked long into the night. Sallia was found there the next morning, and she begged her mentor and the justiciaries to withhold punishment, for she wished to make Rua a retainer.
Amanfar congratulated her on her excellent choice in retainer and then bade her move aside so that the punishment might be carried out. Not even retainers – ultimately, not even Guildsmen – are immune to the laws of Hollowfaust, and a good retainer would understand the reasons why the punishment must be carried out.
For reasons that Rua to this day isn’t entirely sure of, she agreed to go quietly to the lashing, and then accepted her retainer’s token.
DM’s Notes
This character is played by Jenna Lovelady.
Rua is the tough, street-smart one of the group; despite the difficulties and tragedies the others may have lived through, none of them have ever had to figure out how to survive on the streets. She is also the only one that knows her way around the Hollowfaust topside.
Rua Woodsdatter (human female, Rog3, CG)
The young half wood-elf Rua grew up on the streets of Hollowfaust. Though she avoided the underground elements of the city’s streets (such as the Brotherhood of the Shade), she did manage to survive by stealing. Her nimble fingers served her well, at least until she tried to cut the coin purse of a darkly dressed man.
Unfortunately, this slightly drunken man turned out to be a Guildsman and the decorative skeletal hand hanging from his belt turned out to be all too animated, seizing her hand as she put blade to purse. He quickly subdued her with the help of a nearby trio of skeletons and she was taken into the court system of Hollowfaust.
The guildsman, Amanfar Darsinthe, brought his apprentice, Sallia, to the court proceedings so that she might watch Hollowfaust justice in action. Because she stole nothing, Rua was not fined, but she was sentenced to the single lash given to petty thieves.
The night before her sentence, Sallia snuck into the holding cell and the two talked long into the night. Sallia was found there the next morning, and she begged her mentor and the justiciaries to withhold punishment, for she wished to make Rua a retainer.
Amanfar congratulated her on her excellent choice in retainer and then bade her move aside so that the punishment might be carried out. Not even retainers – ultimately, not even Guildsmen – are immune to the laws of Hollowfaust, and a good retainer would understand the reasons why the punishment must be carried out.
For reasons that Rua to this day isn’t entirely sure of, she agreed to go quietly to the lashing, and then accepted her retainer’s token.
DM’s Notes
This character is played by Jenna Lovelady.
Rua is the tough, street-smart one of the group; despite the difficulties and tragedies the others may have lived through, none of them have ever had to figure out how to survive on the streets. She is also the only one that knows her way around the Hollowfaust topside.
Last edited:
SSS-Druid
First Post
Some NPCs of Ashes & Wormwood
Amanfar Darsinthe (human male, Nec5/Ani6, NG) is a master of the Animator’s Guild. A shaven-headed, goateed man of middle years, Amanfar is genteel and studious, giving visitors the impression of a man of culture and sophistication. He is, however, fond of leather garb that fastens with tiny animated mouse hands that clasp buckles. Amafar is known to enjoy the occasional glass of Spectral Jade, the absinthe that he and a few other Guildsmen create in their spare time, brewed with the potent wormwood that grows in the Ghost’s Quarter in the ashes of the dead.
Clemana Darsinthe (human female, Nec10, N), the wife of Amanfar is a Disciple of the Abyss, a woman of dark black hair and pale white skin. She is known to imbibe small amounts of poison to keep herself fashionably wan. Clemana keeps her nails lacquered black, but that is mainly to cover the strange grey-black tint that they have taken, due to her abundant use and experimentation with the negative energies of necromancy. Clemana is also fond of the leather and mouse-paw-buckle ensembles of Amanfar, which she often wears on her nights out to the Baths and the Theatre Sepulchural.
Toltaris (human male Ftr7/Unf3, LN) is Amanfar’s Unfailing guardian, a position that he takes very seriously. He has served Amanfar for a number of years; indeed, he nearly died when Amanfar was assigned to outrider patrol. Attacked by a narleth of the Hornsaw, Toltaris’ spine was horribly shattered. Thanks to Amanfar’s contacts in the Anatomist’s Guild, however, the spine was braced with the animated bones of a wyvern’s shoulder-blades and then regenerated magically. The articulated bones which originally served as the wings of the beast were strengthened and now fold close to the warrior’s back, springing forth at his command to savage enemies with the serrated blades along their length. Toltaris has developed a fierce fighting style using these blades. Toltaris has a goatee and close-shaven head, and often wears a long cloak of cold-weave over his breastplate, which aids in concealing his animated blade-arms.
Branlin Voraxis (human male, Ftr4/Rog2/Unf1, NG) is Toltaris’ lover and apprentice in the arts of the Unfailing. Branlin first let his feelings for the older, wiser warrior be known when he thought that Toltaris might die from the narleth-inflicted wounds. He did not, in fact, die and when he recovered, Toltaris hesitatingly acknowledged Branlin’s declarations. The two have been together ever since. Where Toltaris is dark and brooding, the blonde, long-haired Branlin is much cheerier, enjoying the parties and soirees that his charge, Clemana often attends, and capably defending her with his daggers.
Briath Sinn (half-elf male, Nec6, CN) is probably the foremost leader and role model in Hollowfaust’s rebellious youth element. An older journeyman, Briath is a creature that denies the silly divisions within the Sowers of Fear, insisting that mockery, subtlety and viscera work best together, rather than in some kind of ridiculous divison. He is tall, thin and androgynous, highly decorated with piercings and tattoos. He is given to all manner of sexual deviancy and skirts the edge of Hollowfaust law with his pain-giving perversions.
DM's Notes
The Animator prestige class (Ani) is found in Hollowfaust: City of Necromancers, as is the Unfailing prestige class (Unf).
Amanfar Darsinthe (human male, Nec5/Ani6, NG) is a master of the Animator’s Guild. A shaven-headed, goateed man of middle years, Amanfar is genteel and studious, giving visitors the impression of a man of culture and sophistication. He is, however, fond of leather garb that fastens with tiny animated mouse hands that clasp buckles. Amafar is known to enjoy the occasional glass of Spectral Jade, the absinthe that he and a few other Guildsmen create in their spare time, brewed with the potent wormwood that grows in the Ghost’s Quarter in the ashes of the dead.
Clemana Darsinthe (human female, Nec10, N), the wife of Amanfar is a Disciple of the Abyss, a woman of dark black hair and pale white skin. She is known to imbibe small amounts of poison to keep herself fashionably wan. Clemana keeps her nails lacquered black, but that is mainly to cover the strange grey-black tint that they have taken, due to her abundant use and experimentation with the negative energies of necromancy. Clemana is also fond of the leather and mouse-paw-buckle ensembles of Amanfar, which she often wears on her nights out to the Baths and the Theatre Sepulchural.
Toltaris (human male Ftr7/Unf3, LN) is Amanfar’s Unfailing guardian, a position that he takes very seriously. He has served Amanfar for a number of years; indeed, he nearly died when Amanfar was assigned to outrider patrol. Attacked by a narleth of the Hornsaw, Toltaris’ spine was horribly shattered. Thanks to Amanfar’s contacts in the Anatomist’s Guild, however, the spine was braced with the animated bones of a wyvern’s shoulder-blades and then regenerated magically. The articulated bones which originally served as the wings of the beast were strengthened and now fold close to the warrior’s back, springing forth at his command to savage enemies with the serrated blades along their length. Toltaris has developed a fierce fighting style using these blades. Toltaris has a goatee and close-shaven head, and often wears a long cloak of cold-weave over his breastplate, which aids in concealing his animated blade-arms.
Branlin Voraxis (human male, Ftr4/Rog2/Unf1, NG) is Toltaris’ lover and apprentice in the arts of the Unfailing. Branlin first let his feelings for the older, wiser warrior be known when he thought that Toltaris might die from the narleth-inflicted wounds. He did not, in fact, die and when he recovered, Toltaris hesitatingly acknowledged Branlin’s declarations. The two have been together ever since. Where Toltaris is dark and brooding, the blonde, long-haired Branlin is much cheerier, enjoying the parties and soirees that his charge, Clemana often attends, and capably defending her with his daggers.
Briath Sinn (half-elf male, Nec6, CN) is probably the foremost leader and role model in Hollowfaust’s rebellious youth element. An older journeyman, Briath is a creature that denies the silly divisions within the Sowers of Fear, insisting that mockery, subtlety and viscera work best together, rather than in some kind of ridiculous divison. He is tall, thin and androgynous, highly decorated with piercings and tattoos. He is given to all manner of sexual deviancy and skirts the edge of Hollowfaust law with his pain-giving perversions.
DM's Notes
The Animator prestige class (Ani) is found in Hollowfaust: City of Necromancers, as is the Unfailing prestige class (Unf).
SSS-Druid
First Post
Ashes & Wormwood
Chapter One: Of Jade & Ghouls
Scene One – Sovereign Council Chambers
The air was heavy in the small room; Anjelika had really thought that these chambers would be somehow...bigger. More opulent perhaps, like her father had said the pasha’s palace was.
But no, the room was just inside the ominous Third Gate, the entry in the Underfaust. It sat beneath a low ceiling and was draped in white tapestries. At a black table sat four men, two women and a seventh slim figure that might have been male or female beneath its shroudings.
She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other under the weight of their gaze as one of the men, a pudgy man wearing the greatcoat and scarf that marked the necromancers of Hollowfaust appraised her. The small flense drake – its small black eyes regarding Anjelika intensely – shifted as the man turned from speaking with the older woman that didn’t walk but rather rode in a strange animated contraption made up of skeletal hands that bore her gently when she needed to move.
“We have considered your petition closely, Anjelika Cass. We have some small concerns about your...manifested powers,” he said, a frown creasing his brow where his hairline had already retreated far past. “Our first concern is the safety of our populace, as I’m sure you understand.”
“Tell us again how these powers came to be,” the older woman next to him said, encouragingly, smiling a smile that understood Anjelika’s frustration at having to tell the story of the night her parents died yet again. Anjelika told the story nearly by rote, watching the faces of the gathered necromancers (at least, the face of those she could see, looking quickly away from the darkness in the hood of the seventh necromancer).
She finished her story yet again, and the pudgy man and older woman looked to the second woman, an attractive lady in fine black lace and velvet. She pulled her intense gaze away from Anjelika’s face and looked towards the others at the table with her, nodding slightly.
“Understand,” came a chill voice, issuing from the dark hood of the seventh necromancer. “Your father was asked to depart the city because his wealth – and thus, his influence – within the city grew great. None may threaten the balance of power in Hollowfaust. This is our first goal.
“The powers that you wield are unique, Cass. All of the children in Hollowfaust who show such strong signs as those you bear are claimed early,” he said, referring she knew to the large outspread birthmark that looked like nothing so much as a pair of outstretched raven’s wings. “The powers that have come upon you suddenly would have been harnessed and trained carefully had your family remained in Hollowfaust.
“It is, then, the decision of this council that you be permitted to take possession of the property owned by your parents within the city of Hollowfaust.” It looked down at the notes littering the table before it. “A medium-sized dwelling consisting of two street-level rooms, a second floor room and a roof-top garden, as well as myriad household furnishings and effects. All these we return to your family.” Anjelika smiled. This was much easier than she’d anticipated it might be.
“However, we must ascertain whether or not you will be a threat to the populace of this city. Therefore, you are hereby remanded to the care of the Disciples of the Abyss, the guild that oversees projects dealing with the energies of entropy and death, energies which you seem to have manifestly learned to control. These are dangerous energies, not just to the wielder, but to those around her, and we would be remiss in permitting you to dwell among our citizenry without the assurance that you held proper control over those powers.
“As such, you shall be placed in the Darsinthe household within the Underfaust.” He gestured, and a beautiful woman stepped forward, with long black hair and pale skin. Her hands, with the nails lacquered black, were folded primly and deferentially before her. She smiled a quick, reassuring smile at Anjelika before directing her gaze at the Sovereign Council.
“Master Baryoi, I have already discussed this with my husband. He is in full agreement. Our household already harbors one apprentice; we welcome another who is looking to master her talents.”
“It is settled, then,” sighed the man on the far left, a man with his head shaven save for a long queue that chimed merrily with small silver bells woven into the braid. “Welcome to Hollowfaust, Anjelika.”
Anjelika just barely remembered to bow as her father had taught her before being whisked off by the well-dressed woman and the man with long blonde hair that accompanied her.
The trio left the confines of the Sovereign Council Chambers and entered the hallways that led deeper into the Underfaust. The walls were rough-hewn stone, with occasional clay pipes running along their base. Condensation formed along the ceiling and occasionally dripped onto Anjelika’s head, much to the mischievous delight of Drendos, her raven familiar perched on her shoulder.
Quiet, you she chided him mentally, and was rewarded with a squawk and mental chuckle for her efforts.
“Well, my dear. I am truly glad to have you among us. I didn’t get to hear much from the Council about you, though old Baryoi said he’d send along a detailed report. My name is Clemana Darsinthe, and this is Branlin Voraxis, my guardian.” She spoke quite quickly and with some measure of distraction – she was obviously in a hurry to get home and only barely murmured greetings to those necromancers they passed in the halls.
She stopped at a door crafted of nightwood and set with silver accents. From around his neck, Branlin drew a silver key on a chain and unlocked the door, holding it open and standing aside. Clemana placed one hand on Anjelika’s shoulder, and gestured into the darkness beyond the door with the other.
“Welcome to the Darsinthe household, Anjelika. I’m sure you’ll be very happy here.”
Chapter One: Of Jade & Ghouls
Scene One – Sovereign Council Chambers
The air was heavy in the small room; Anjelika had really thought that these chambers would be somehow...bigger. More opulent perhaps, like her father had said the pasha’s palace was.
But no, the room was just inside the ominous Third Gate, the entry in the Underfaust. It sat beneath a low ceiling and was draped in white tapestries. At a black table sat four men, two women and a seventh slim figure that might have been male or female beneath its shroudings.
She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other under the weight of their gaze as one of the men, a pudgy man wearing the greatcoat and scarf that marked the necromancers of Hollowfaust appraised her. The small flense drake – its small black eyes regarding Anjelika intensely – shifted as the man turned from speaking with the older woman that didn’t walk but rather rode in a strange animated contraption made up of skeletal hands that bore her gently when she needed to move.
“We have considered your petition closely, Anjelika Cass. We have some small concerns about your...manifested powers,” he said, a frown creasing his brow where his hairline had already retreated far past. “Our first concern is the safety of our populace, as I’m sure you understand.”
“Tell us again how these powers came to be,” the older woman next to him said, encouragingly, smiling a smile that understood Anjelika’s frustration at having to tell the story of the night her parents died yet again. Anjelika told the story nearly by rote, watching the faces of the gathered necromancers (at least, the face of those she could see, looking quickly away from the darkness in the hood of the seventh necromancer).
She finished her story yet again, and the pudgy man and older woman looked to the second woman, an attractive lady in fine black lace and velvet. She pulled her intense gaze away from Anjelika’s face and looked towards the others at the table with her, nodding slightly.
“Understand,” came a chill voice, issuing from the dark hood of the seventh necromancer. “Your father was asked to depart the city because his wealth – and thus, his influence – within the city grew great. None may threaten the balance of power in Hollowfaust. This is our first goal.
“The powers that you wield are unique, Cass. All of the children in Hollowfaust who show such strong signs as those you bear are claimed early,” he said, referring she knew to the large outspread birthmark that looked like nothing so much as a pair of outstretched raven’s wings. “The powers that have come upon you suddenly would have been harnessed and trained carefully had your family remained in Hollowfaust.
“It is, then, the decision of this council that you be permitted to take possession of the property owned by your parents within the city of Hollowfaust.” It looked down at the notes littering the table before it. “A medium-sized dwelling consisting of two street-level rooms, a second floor room and a roof-top garden, as well as myriad household furnishings and effects. All these we return to your family.” Anjelika smiled. This was much easier than she’d anticipated it might be.
“However, we must ascertain whether or not you will be a threat to the populace of this city. Therefore, you are hereby remanded to the care of the Disciples of the Abyss, the guild that oversees projects dealing with the energies of entropy and death, energies which you seem to have manifestly learned to control. These are dangerous energies, not just to the wielder, but to those around her, and we would be remiss in permitting you to dwell among our citizenry without the assurance that you held proper control over those powers.
“As such, you shall be placed in the Darsinthe household within the Underfaust.” He gestured, and a beautiful woman stepped forward, with long black hair and pale skin. Her hands, with the nails lacquered black, were folded primly and deferentially before her. She smiled a quick, reassuring smile at Anjelika before directing her gaze at the Sovereign Council.
“Master Baryoi, I have already discussed this with my husband. He is in full agreement. Our household already harbors one apprentice; we welcome another who is looking to master her talents.”
“It is settled, then,” sighed the man on the far left, a man with his head shaven save for a long queue that chimed merrily with small silver bells woven into the braid. “Welcome to Hollowfaust, Anjelika.”
Anjelika just barely remembered to bow as her father had taught her before being whisked off by the well-dressed woman and the man with long blonde hair that accompanied her.
The trio left the confines of the Sovereign Council Chambers and entered the hallways that led deeper into the Underfaust. The walls were rough-hewn stone, with occasional clay pipes running along their base. Condensation formed along the ceiling and occasionally dripped onto Anjelika’s head, much to the mischievous delight of Drendos, her raven familiar perched on her shoulder.
Quiet, you she chided him mentally, and was rewarded with a squawk and mental chuckle for her efforts.
“Well, my dear. I am truly glad to have you among us. I didn’t get to hear much from the Council about you, though old Baryoi said he’d send along a detailed report. My name is Clemana Darsinthe, and this is Branlin Voraxis, my guardian.” She spoke quite quickly and with some measure of distraction – she was obviously in a hurry to get home and only barely murmured greetings to those necromancers they passed in the halls.
She stopped at a door crafted of nightwood and set with silver accents. From around his neck, Branlin drew a silver key on a chain and unlocked the door, holding it open and standing aside. Clemana placed one hand on Anjelika’s shoulder, and gestured into the darkness beyond the door with the other.
“Welcome to the Darsinthe household, Anjelika. I’m sure you’ll be very happy here.”
Last edited:
Barastrondo
First Post
I Am Filled with Giddiness.
First the ENnies nominations for Hollowfaust. Now this.
Words... do something. Fail someone. This is just so cool.
Thanks, Joe! I'm giggling like an anime schoolgirl here.
First the ENnies nominations for Hollowfaust. Now this.
Words... do something. Fail someone. This is just so cool.
Thanks, Joe! I'm giggling like an anime schoolgirl here.
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